Heat of the Everflame by Penn Cole Series: The Kindred’s Curse #3
Published by Podium on 09/12/23
Genres: Romantasy
Format: Audiobook
Length: 34 Hrs 29 Mins
Source: Audible
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Heat of the Everflame is the third book in The Kindred’s Curse Saga, a four-book epic fantasy romance series that follows our fiesty, bad*ss heroine Diem Bellator in her fight against injustice, her struggle to survive in a royal palace full of betrayal and intrigue, and her journey of self-discovery and finding true love. This slow burn, enemies-to-lovers series is perfect for fans of unique magic systems, dragons and other mythical creatures, angst and romantic tension, and hilarious banter.
Table of Contents
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Previously on The Kindred’s Curse Saga:
When old secrets catch fire, everything will burn.
In a mortal world colonized by the gods and ruled over by the Descended, their cruel offspring, Diem Bellator yearns to escape the insular life of her poor village.
Her mother’s sudden disappearance—and the discovery of a dangerous secret about her past—offer Diem an unexpected opportunity to enter the dark world of Descended royalty and unlock the web of mysteries her mother left behind.
With the dying King’s handsome, mysterious heir watching her every move, and a ruthless mortal alliance recruiting her to join the growing civil war, Diem will have to navigate the unwritten rules of love, power, and politics in order to save her family—and all of mortalkind.
Spark of the Everflame is the first book in The Kindred’s Curse Saga, a four-book epic fantasy romance series that follows our fiesty, badss heroine Diem Bellator in her fight against injustice and oppression, her struggle to survive in a royal palace full of betrayal and intrigue, and her journey of self-discovery and finding true love. This slow burn, enemies-to-lovers series is perfect for fans of unique magic systems, dragons, angst and romantic tension, and hilarious banter. This book will appeal to fans of plot-heavy, character-driven romantasy such as A Court of Thorns and Roses, Throne of Glass, From Blood and Ash, Gild, Shadow & Bone, and The Serpent & the Wings of Night.*
An unexpected gift offers the power to change everything. Keeping it could cost Diem her life.
The threat of war has arrived at Diem’s doorstep, along with a new discovery that could save her people. To use it, she must survive the next thirty days by forming a devil’s bargain with the people she hates most: the royal family of House Corbois.
As she dives into the world of the Descended elite, Diem quickly realizes good and evil aren’t as simple as they seem. Old prejudices are challenged, and new loyalties blur the line between friend and foe.
Meanwhile, her mother is still missing, and the secrets she left behind can no longer be ignored—and neither can the Guardians and their demands. Caught between an old flame and a sizzling new spark, Diem must confront the truth about who she is and what she wants before time runs out.
War is coming, and dangerous enemies wait on all sides—but the most deadly battle Diem faces may be the one for her heart.
Glow of the Everflame is the second book in The Kindred’s Curse Saga, a four-book epic fantasy romance series that follows our fiesty, bad*ss heroine Diem Bellator in her fight against injustice and oppression, her struggle to survive in a royal palace full of betrayal and intrigue, and her journey of self-discovery and finding true love. This slow burn, enemies-to-lovers series is perfect for fans of unique magic systems, dragons and other mythical creatures, angst and romantic tension, and hilarious banter. This book will appeal to fans of plot-heavy, character-driven romantasy such as A Court of Thorns and Roses, Throne of Glass, From Blood and Ash, Gild, Shadow & Bone, and The Serpent & the Wings of Night.
About Heat of the Everflame
The war has begun. Both sides demand Diem’s allegiance—or her death.
After her disastrous coronation, Diem finds herself at the center of the conflict between the Descended and the Guardians. With her newfound friends and the man she’s falling for on one side, and the mortals she has vowed to protect on the other, Diem must walk a careful line to save the people she loves… even from each other.
The mystery of her unusual heritage begins to unravel, sending Diem and Luther on an unexpected journey across the realms. The answers may hold the key to winning the war, but finding them will require her to face painful truths about her mother, her bloodline, and her fate.
Meanwhile, the Crowns have set Diem in their sights. Some could be her greatest allies—while others want her dead. To end their oppressive reign, Diem must sort friend from foe and risk it all to build an army of her own.
But a powerful figure in the north has plans that could change everything…
Heat of the Everflame is the third book in The Kindred’s Curse Saga, a four-book epic fantasy romance series that follows our fiesty, bad*ss heroine Diem Bellator in her fight against injustice, her struggle to survive in a royal palace full of betrayal and intrigue, and her journey of self-discovery and finding true love. This slow burn, enemies-to-lovers series is perfect for fans of unique magic systems, dragons and other mythical creatures, angst and romantic tension, and hilarious banter.
Tropes in Heat of the Everflame
❤️🔥 Enemies to Lovers
❤️🔥 Slowburn
❤️🔥 Fated Mates
❤️🔥 Gods vs Mortals
❤️🔥 Stabby FMC
❤️🔥 Shadow Daddy
❤️🔥 Royal Intrigue
❤️🔥 Dragons
❤️🔥 Chosen One
My Review
This beast of a book could have been a whole series on its own! 34.5 hours of listening or 1,026 pages of reading means there’s just so much information packed in here. Unfortunately, the sheer volume of content didn’t make the story any less predictable. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t always mind a predictable plot if I’m having a good time. (Just look at my Metal Slinger review!) But this time, I felt like I was slogging through so many unnecessary twists and turns, all in a transparent attempt to disguise the big reveals. And waiting for Diem to finally catch up to things that felt super obvious just made the whole experience drag on even longer.
The slowburn romance between Diem and Luther left me feeling a bit burnt out, too. I didn’t get that giddy anticipation for them to take that next step in their relationship, so when it finally happened, it just felt…anticlimactic.
But you know what? Even with all my gripes, there’s still something about the way the Penn Cole writes Luther that just works for me. The things he says still manage to make my heart flutter.
“I want there to be no part of you that you hide from me because you fear it’s a part I will not love. I treasure your darkness as much as your light.” He dropped his mouth a breath away from mine, his words a whisper on my lips. “Show me your worst, my darling, and I’ll show you how far my love can go.”
“Desire?” He gave a dark, throaty laugh. “Desire is a pathetic word for what I feel for you. I require you. I am sustained by you. You are the flame that fuels my fire. Don’t you dare question that—not for a second.”
Final Thoughts
I’ve already invested so much time and energy into the first three books of the Kindred’s Curse Saga, so there’s no way I’m not reading the final installment. But now the waiting game begins – I have to impatiently twiddle my thumbs until the next book, Burn of the Everflame, is finally released.
I’ve got my fingers crossed that a release date gets announced soon so I can mark it on my calendar and start counting down the days. I’m dying to see how Diem, Luther, and their whole eclectic cast of characters wrap up their story. After everything I’ve been through with them so far, I need that closure. The anticipation is killing me, but I know it’ll be worth it to dive back into that world one last time. Bring on the epic conclusion!
Free Printable
As a special thank you for reading, I am sharing a free printable of the bookmarks I created for this series. Please feel free to drop me a note if you have any questions or issues. Happy Reading!